Description

The motto of Crawford, Virginia, might well be" Beware what you fear, because it may come true." Penny Bone is terrified of the town's local legend of a child-stealing phantom. Henry Gault, her six-year-old daughter's teacher, scoffs at the tale, trusting in reason and foresight to safeguard what is most precious to him. Penny's husband, John, is in prison for an accidental murder that happened because he was trying to be too careful. And in prison he will, almost accidentally, become a hero, which makes him prey to what he fears most--hope. An eerie succession of events will take these people into the bull's-eye of risk that everyday life presents. While the Gypsy Man may be just one of Crawford's myths, John and Penny Bone are as real as the rising sun, and their strength, separately and together, reminds us why life is worth living. "The" "Gypsy Man," and its durable and enduring characters, illuminates how an elusive truth lives behind every legend.show more

Review quote

PRAISE FOR "A HOLE IN THE EARTH""A splendid novel, original in the best sense . . . raising the kinds of questions that families are always asking."--"The New York Times Book Review""A courageous and beautiful book--moving, tragic, wise, but also starkly and necessarily comic."--"The Washington Post Book World""A beautiful and aching novel, alarming in its wisdom and treatment of one of the great terrors, loneliness, and one of the great mercies, forgiveness."--Rick Bassshow more

Rating details

81 ratings

3.46 out of 5 stars

5
19% (15)

4
33% (27)

3
32% (26)

2
9% (7)

1
7% (6)

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